Portable sand conditioning apparatus



Nov. 15, 1960 G. cAsTERA 2,959,830

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PORTABLE SAND CUNDITIDNING APPARATUS George Castera, 651 Siena Way, Los Angeles, Calif.

Filed Oct. 9, 1957, Ser. No. 689,189

3 Claims. (Cl. 22-89) This invention relates to equipment for conditioning sand and more particularly to a machine for conditioning sand to make it capable of reuse.

The primary object of the invention is to remove tramp iron from used foundry sand so that it can be reused safely.

In the use of my machine, used or otherwise unclean foundry sand is dumped over the top of the machine by a front end loader. This is the suggested manner for charging the machine, however, other methods of placing the foundry sand into the machine may be adopted. The sand then drops over a number of cleaning devices among which are a number of screens, a strong magnet to withdraw the metal particles, and a clod breaker and tramp iron ejector.

The cleaned sand is discharged by my machine into a pile a considerable distance from the machine so that the pile may assume rather large proportions. Optionally, the sand could be collected and transported to a pile located elsewhere, bins, etc.

One of the important features of the invention is the water spray for the sand and the point of admission of the water. The sand is placed in a machine dry so that the machine does not have to handle the additional water loading, but just as the sand is discharged from the machine it is subjected to a fine spr-ay.

Another feature deemed to be a considerable improvement in the art is the clod breaker organization. There are a number of tires placed alongside of each other and on an axle, although it is appreciated that a resilient roller could be constructed in a more expensive way. The tires are rotated closely adjacent to a panel which has at least a part formed with a number of holes. The sand plus impurities are fed to the roller and the clods are automatically broken by the crushing action of the rotating roller near the panel. Probably the most important function of the clod breaker, though, is that it functions as a device for extracting tramp iron and expelling it from the machine. Any large pieces of iron which are accepted by the screens but which cannot pass through the small size screen, are vibrated to the roller and this expels the iron out of the machine. The third function of the roller is that it acts as a back drop for the sand as it is vibrated through the machine for the final cleansing thereof.

Small particles of tramp iron which pass through the finest mesh screen, are extracted by a magnet located in the throat through which all of the foundry sand passes prior to entering the machine discharge station.

The discharge station of the machine is constructed of a paddle wheel operating in a housing. The sand enters and is propelled by the paddle Wheel throughan open door in the machine.

A further general object of the invention is to achieve an economy in foundry operations by a machine which cleans the foundry sand quickly and effectively. The sand is subjected to several screenings, physical removal of tramp iron which is sifted from the sand as it is group .of classifying screens 20.

Patented Nov. 15, 1960 inafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof,

wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is an elevational side view of the machine which is constructed to demonstrate the principles of the invention, parts of this machine being broken away to 'illustrate'otherwise hidden internal detail;

Figure 2 is an end view of the machine in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational side view illustrating a portion of the drive mechanism which would otherwise be obscured;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a top view of a panel with which the rotary clod breaker and tramp iron remover is used; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing a part of the roller which is used with the panel of Figure 6.

In the accompanying drawings there is a portable machine 10 which is constructed to demonstrate the principles of the invention. This machine is loaded preferably by a front end loader through the loading side 12 of the upwardly opening hopper 14. This hopper is constructed of three side walls that are rcmovably attached to the frame 18 of the machine by being bolted in place so that they can .be easily removed where and whenlfound necessary. As shown in Figure 4 the hop- .per. 14 has angulated panels to direct the sand onto the A pair of transverse guards 22 and 24 are attached across the upper end of the machine. The guards are constructed of downwardly opening angle iron members on rods that are welded, bolted or otherwise attached to upstanding brackets 26 on both sides of the frame 18 of the machine. Eyes 28 are fixed to the guards 22 and 24 in order to attach chains or like fastening devices.

There are three screens 30, 32 and 34 in the screening station (Figure 4). The screens are disposed with- .in the side walls of hopper 36 whose discharge neck 40 may be formed in screen 30, and all of the panels need not have screen or mesh coverings. Some may be made of an imperforate panel. Regardless of the construction of screen 30, it is preferred that the screen be of a comparatively larger mesh and that the frame of the screen be attached firmly to the side walls of hopper 36. Screen 34 functions as a baffle and is angulated slightly from a horizontal reference plane. It, too, has a frame 48 which is bolted or otherwise secured to the opposite sides of the hopper 36. Screen 32 is of smaller mesh, having a greater number of openings per square foot, and is supported by frame 50 attached :to the side walls of hopper 36.

The means for imparting oscillatory or vibratory movement to the hopper 36 and the three described screens, are seen best in Figure 1. They comprise an electric motor 54 that is mounted on a part of the frame of the machine below hopper 36. A group of belts 56 are entrained around multiple pulley 58 on the shaft of motor 54 and around multiple pulley 60 that is attached to shaft 62. Bearings 64 on frame 18 support shaft 62 transversely of the machine and in a manner capable of being rotated. Eccentric 68 is fixed to shaft 52, and there is an eccentric carrier 70 on the eccentric 68. Push rod 72 is attached to the carrier 70 and to a wall 74 that is secured to hopper 36 and that constitutes a part thereof. Shock arresting springs 76 and 77 react on opposite sides of wall 74 and on adjustably mounted nuts 78 and 79 on a threaded part of push rod 72. A pair of guide rods 80 are welded to wall 74 and they reciprocate in a pair of bearings 82 that are secured to frame 18. These constrain the motion of the hopper 36 and the screens that are supported by the hopper. The operation is such that upon energization of motor 54, shaft 62 is rotated thereby causing oscillation of push rod 72. This oscillation is transmitted by springs 76 and 77 to the wall 74. This transmits the oscillatory movement to the hopper 36 and the screens that are supported by the hopper. It is to be clearly understood that if noise is a factor or for other considerations, springs 76 and 77 may be removed and replaced by rubber cushions. Alternatively, cushions may be used in addition to springs at this part of the machine. Inasmuch as the screens must oscillate to have a reasonable speed of sand screening, and there is considerable inertia involved in operation of the machine, the guides 80 together with their bearings 82 have counterparts on the opposite end of the machine (Figure 4) as seen at 90 and 92 respectively. The rods 90 are welded to a part of the hopper 36 and the bearings 92 are secured, for example by clamps, to the machine frame 18. These will allow the hopper 36 plus its screens, to be oscillated and will prevent side thrusts. The vertical component of the forces involved in the loads of the hopper, sand and screens, are transmitted to frame 18 of the machine through posts near the four corners of the machine. Posts 96 and 97 are at one end of the machine while posts 98 and 99 are at the other end of the machine. The upper extremities of all of the posts are attached to depending brackets 100 (Figure 5) that are welded to the hopper 36. Rubber cushions isolate the posts from the brackets but transmit forces therebetween through the intermediate sound attenuating rubber material. The lower extremities of the posts (Figure 2) have rubber cushions 102 between them and mounting brackets that are attached to the frame 18 of the machine.

A specially constructed panel 108 (Figure 6) is located at the discharge end of the final screen 32. The sand and material which does sift through screen 50 is fed on panel 108 that is located within the confines of hopper 36 and is mechanically connected to it. Panel 108 vibrates with screens 30, 32 and 34 and hopper 36. Panel 108 is secured by long rods 110 and 112 to the top of hopper 36 (Figure 4). These rods 110 and 112 can flex, and are subjected to the oscillatory motion of the hopper. Panel 108 is held in place in hopper 36 by a set of two tension springs 107 (Figure 6), pulling rods 110 and 112 and two compression springs 109 pushing rods 110 and 112 attached to connecting bar 111 and located at the ends of rods 110 and 112 and the frame of hopper 36. The ends of rods 110 and 112 are set in rubber cushions 113 in the frame of hopper 36. The panel has an imperforate center part 118 that is flanked by parallel screen parts 120 and 122 through which sand may pass. The imperforate end part 124 of the panel 180 has ledges 125 and 126 which slope toward the discharge opening for tramp iron.

A clod breaker 130 which functions equally if not more importantly as a tramp iron separator and ejector, is mounted above panel 108. The clod breaker consists of a shaft 132 that has a hub 134 (Figure 7) secured to it. A group of rubber tires 136 are slid on sleeve 138, and the sleeve is attached to the hub 134. The rubber tires and their shafts and sleeves function as a roller which is set into motion very close to the imperforate part 118 of panel 108. The direction of motion is such as to expel tramp iron out of the machine. However, clods which are discharged from the end of screen 32, are crushed by the roller and the sand is pushed through the periphery part of panel 108. Sand that passes beneath the clod breaker can enter hopper 36 through the periphery part 122 of panel 108. However, pieces of iron are forcibly ejected from the machine through the discharge opening 140 that is formed by the upstanding ledges and 126 (Figure 6). If found desirable or necessary a door can be attached to the frame 18 of the machine to cover the discharge of panel 108. This would be largely as a protective measure and to have the tramp iron fall gently to the ground or into an awaiting pail located near the machine.

Panel 108 is capable of being lowered and is held in an elevated position very close to the clod breaker 130 during the normal operation of the machine. There are a number of ways by which the panel 108 can be held in the elevated (Figure 4) position. One selected structure for accomplishing this is illustrated. It consists of a pair of springs (Figure 2) whose upper ends are attached to frame 18 and whose lower ends are attached to eye bolts 152 on overcenter latches 154 and 156. These latches operate very much like trunk latches and hold the panel 108 in an elevated position. It can be lowered against the bias of springs 150 when a large piece of tramp iron is encountered. The inherent elasticity of rods 110 and 112 will enable this to happen. Moreover, when it is desired to lower the panel 108, the latches need only be opened and the panel 108 lowered enough to clean it.

One function of motor 54 is to obtain power for vibrating hopper 36 and its screens. Another function is to rotate clod breaker 130. One or more belts 151 are entrained around a pulley or multiple pulley 153 on shaft 52 (Figures 4 and 3), and also around multiple pulley 155 on a shaft which extends from gear box 157. Sprocket 158 also attached to a shaft of the gear box has a chain 160 enmeshed with it and enmeshed with sprocket 162 that is attached to the end of shaft 132. Therefore, any time that hopper 36 and its screens are actuated, the clod breaker is set into motion. The controls for this part of the machine together with all other controls may be contained on a neat panel or in a panel box on the machine frame.

After the sand is sifted through screen 32 and the perforated parts 120 and 122 of panel 108, it falls into the hopper 36 and through neck 40 into housing or casing 170. This casing is supported by the frame of the machine and opens upwardly in registry with neck 40 of the hopper. There is a side discharge nozzle 174 on casing through which the sand is expelled. Door 176 is hinged to casing 176 and covers nozzle 174. Chain 178 is used to hold the door 176 in the open, elevated position. One end of the chain is attached to a part of the frame and the other end hooking in an eye or door 176. When the chain is released, the door 176 is gravity closed over the cleaned sand discharge nozzle 174.

The sand that passes through'neck 40 contains some fine particles of tramp iron which should be removed. Removal is achieved by a strong magnet 180 that is in the form of a bar extending longitudinally across neck 40 and located in slots 182 and 184 in the shorter end walls of the neck 40. One end of the magnet has an insulating shoe 186 on it while the other end is located in an insulating sleeve 188 that is carried by the frame. The reason for having the insulation is to prevent parts of the machine from becoming magnetized and attracting the iron particles.

Door 192 in one end of casing 170 is on a hinge 194 and provides a support for shoe 186. 'In order to remove the magnet 180 for cleaning the iron particles from it, door 192 is swung to an open position after first releasing the latch 198, and then the magnet is slipped from its insulating holder 188.

The magnetic removal of iron particles is the final step in the cleansing operation of the sand. Thereafter it falls by gravity toward the center of casing 170, but is expelled by paddle wheel 200 (Figure 1) that is mounted for rotation on a longitudinal axis of the casing. The paddle wheel is constructed of shaft 202 mounted in external bearings 204 and 206 carried by frame 18. Groups of arms 209 and 210 are attached to shaft 202 within casing 170 and they have vanes 214 thereon. Each vane is constructed of a panel with a flexible wiper 216 which runs very close to or in contact with the inner surface of the housing or casing 170. This expels the sand forcibly through the nozzle 170, as the sand falls through the neck 40 of hopper 36 and into the casing 170.

The paddle wheel is set into motion by one or a group of belts 220 that are entrained around a multiple pulley 222 on the shaft of motor 224. This motor is carried by frame 18 of the machine and is located close to casing 170. The belts 220 are also entrained around a multiple pulley 228 that is secured to the end of shaft 202. Upon actuation of motor 224 the paddle wheel is operated to discharge the cleaned sand into a pile at a considerable distance from the machine 10.

There are a member of optional features in my invention. In a heavier type of construction, heavy springs 24f) are attached to brackets on both sides of the hopper 36 and to anchors on frame 18. These springs oppose each other and assure that the vibratory motion of the hopper 36, the large masses of sand handled by it and the screens, will remain in a constrained path of motion. Lighter machines will use lighter springs or no springs at this point or will have other arrangements of springs, rubber cushions or the like.

A further feature that is optional is the spray nozzle 250 that schematically represents the application of water to the sand as it is discharged from the sand nozzle 174. The machine may have its own pump 252 for feeding the nozzle 250 with a sufficient head of water to spray the sand. By spraying after cleaning, the additional weight of water is not handled by the machine, screening system. In instances where available, the hose connected to nozzle 250 may be connected directly to an external source of water under pressure without the necessity of pump 252.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will, readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a machine for conditioning foundry sand, the combination of a frame, a hopper, resilient means mounting said hopper on said frame, a screen in said hopper and attached to the hopper for vibratory motion therewith, a shaft carried by said frame, a push rod, means drivingly connecting said push rod to said shaft for reciprocation of said push rod, resilient means drivingly connecting said push rod to said hopper to vibrate said hopper, guides connected with said hopper and said frame for constraining the motion of said hopper, said hopper having an outlet through which the screened sand is adapted to pass, a combination clod breaker and tramp iron separator in said hopper but isolated therefrom insofar as vibratory motion is concerned, said clod breaker and tramp iron separator including a roller and a panel adjacent to which said roller is operable, support rods attached to said panel and secured to the frame of the machine, and means releasably holding said panel in a position adjacent to the periphery of said roller.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said panel has a part which is perforated through which sand is capable of passing.

3. The machine of claim 1 wherein there are walls on the frame of the machine that form an upward continuation of the side walls of said hopper and constitute the inlet for foundry sand to pass into the machine, and at least one guard carried by the frame of the machine and superposed with respect to said screen.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,406,237 Stamm Feb. 14, 1922 1,767,353 Dorlodot June 24, 1930 1,912,837 Goldberg June 6, 1933 2,132,163 Henry Oct. 4, 1938 2,192,076 Grow Feb. 27, 1940 2,416,293 Duesberg Feb. 25, 1947 2,578,180 Edwards Dec. 11, 1951 2,733,812 Hofi' Feb. 7, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 533,279 Germany Sept. 10, 1931 

